Tag: tokyo open

World #1 Victoria Azarenka continues to assert her dominance over the rest of the tour, winning the China Open this week with ease. Photo by Cynthia Lum.

The end of the WTA season is looming, with the year end championships coming at the end of the month in Turkey. Let’s take a look at what’s happened since the US Open in the women’s game…

–Victoria Azarenka once again proved she (along with Serena Williams) are in a class by themselves over the rest of the tour, cruising through the draw to win the China Open without dropping a set. In fact, no set was closer than 6-4, including her win over world #2 Maria Sharapova in the final, 6-3 6-1. She’s won 15 of her last 16 matches (not counting her w/o in Tokyo) with her only loss coming in the US Open final against Serena, 7-5 in the third.

-Former world #3 Nadia Petrova got hot in Japan, taking down three top 10 players en route to her winning the Tokyo Open, her second WTA title of the year. This marks the first time that Petrova has beaten three top 10 players in the same tournament in her career. The rejuvenated 30-year-old Petrova has bigger visions after winning this title. “There are a few players who have won Grand Slams after 30, and I feel like I don’t want to walk away from tennis without accomplishing the same.”

Laura Robson of Great Britain is a player to keep an eye on for 2013. Photo by Cynthia Lum.

-18-year-old Laura Robson is using the confidence she gained from winning the mixed doubles silver medal at the Olympics with Andy Murray to continue to vault up the rankings. She has won 10 of her last 13 matches going back to the US Open (including two top 10 wins at the Open) and is currently at a career high ranking of 56 in the world. Look for the youngster to keep improving and crack the top 20 real soon.